Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy Five-Masted Ship under Steam, Minotaur Class

British Sailor's Woolwork of a Royal Navy White Fleet Frigate The sailor's woolwork depicts a portside view of a square-rigged three masted ship flying the White Ensign. The blue s...

Iron and Thread: A Sailor's Vision of the Ram-Bow Era This striking 19th-century sailor’s woolwork, or "woolie," captures the essence of a rapidly modernizing Royal Navy, depicting a warship whose very design speaks to an era of dramatic technological change. Crafted with painstaking detail from colored yarns, this textile artwork is a superb example of the folk art traditionally made by British sailors during their long hours at sea , between journeys or in retirement. Dimensions: 19 inches high x 18 1/8 inches wide x 2 inches deep. Historical Context: The Dawn of the Ironclads The vessel illustrated is a powerful, sail-assisted steam warship, but what makes her distinctive is the pronounced, jutting ram-bow visible at her waterline. This feature was a direct consequence of the rise of ironclad warships in the mid-19th century, following the tactical use of ramming during the American Civil War and the Austro-Italian War. The ram-bow was incorporated into new British warship designs from the 1860s onward, turning the bow itself into a formidable weapon. Dating to circa 1880, this woolie belongs to a period when the Royal Navy was building large, powerful capital ships—the very ships that carried the ram. The ship is accurately shown flying the White Ensign, the distinguishing flag of a commissioned Royal Navy warship, and a long white masthead pennant, confirming her status as a vessel in active commission. The simple, bold execution of the ship, set against a classic background of sea and segmented land, creates a work of remarkable visual strength. A Unique Square Presentation The woolwork is notable for its unusual and attractive near-square format, offering a distinct aesthetic among nautical woolies...

English Sailor's Woolwork of a Battleship, Circa 1865-75. The sailor's woolie depicts a starboard side view of a second rate battleship flying the White ensign under sail. White se...

British Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy Ship, The sailor's woolwork or woolie depicts a starboard view of a Second-Rate Royal Navy Ship with three masts. T...

19th Century Sailor's Woolie of a British Frigate, circa 1870 , a British sailor's hand-crafted woolwork picture with a large starboard side view of a frigate with single gun deck, u...

19th Century Sailor's Woolie of a Steam Frigate Under Good Head of Steam, circa 1870s, a British sailor's hand-crafted woolwork picture of an Auxiliary Steam Ship or "Steam Frigate,"...

English Country Victorian maple framed embroidered woolwork clipper ship with brown and white hulls.  

19th Century Sailor's Woolie of Flag-Bedecked Triple Decker Ship of the Line, circa 1850, a British sailor's hand-crafted woolwork picture with a larboard side view of a triple decke...